What is Omega-3?
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients found in fish and certain plan oils. They are essential because your body needs Omega-3 to maintain good overall health. More than 14,000 studies have been published over the past 35 years consistantly showing that Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, are important to your health throughout every stage of life.
The family of Omega-3 fatty acids includes EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahaxaenoic acid) and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), but EPA and DHA are the forms your body ultimately needs to obtain optimal benefits. EPA and DHA are readily available to the body by consuming fish oil, whereas ALA (such as from flax) must first be converted by the body into EPA and DHA. This conversion process is inefficient and runs at less than one percent. In the end, consuming a direct source of EPA and DHA is a much better option for getting the full benefits of Omega-3.
EPA/DHA from Fish Oil
Over 14,000 scientific publications support the potential health benefits of Omega-3 EPA/DHA from fish oil. Every day the vast research on Omega-3 EPA/DHA continues to grow as scientific researchers throughout the world examine new benefits associated with fish oil consumption and expand the list of potential benefits for consumers. Multiple health claims for EPA and DHA Omega-3 fatty acids are currently under review at the EU level, with several formal approvals expected to be published during 2010 and 2011. In particular, the claims are expected to include areas such as brain and eye development in infants and cardiovascular benefits in adults. In addition, a general health and wellness claim will also be available for use with all approved health claims. Together, these new claims will demonstrate that EPA and DHA are important factors in the maintenance of good health and provide valuable health benefits at every stage of life.
In early 2010, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a final scientific opinion on reccommended Dietary Reference Values (DRV’s) for fats. This included a thorough analysis of the benefits and appropriate intake levels for EPA and DHA. The EFSA recommendations for EPA and DHA daily intakes are as follows:
- Adults and children over 24 months: 250mg EPA & DHA per day
- Women during pregnancy and lactation: 250mg EPA & DHA per day plus 100-200mg DHA per day
Each serving of delicious Chewyz fruit flavoured chews (2 chews) delivers 100mg of Omega-3 (80mg DHA & EPA) and at the same time, contains 25% of your recommended daily allowance of vitamins A, C, D & E.
